Ore-separator



(NoModel.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. P. MILLER.

ORE SEPARATUR.

No. 497,474. Patented May 16,1893.V

nu: Norms Patins co, pHoro-uma, WASHINGTON, D. c.

(No Model.) 3 sheets-'sheet z.

W. P. MILLER. I y.

ORB SBPARATOR.

IVE/w02 WM f @74M y.

w: Ncnms versus co.. vnooumo.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

10.497,474. Patented May16,1893.

(No Model.)

1 om: SBPARATUR. No. 497,474. Patented May v1.6, 1893.

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM PENN'MILLER, OF REDDING, CALIFORNIA.

one-SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,474, dated May 16, 1893. I Applioation'led December 10, 1892. Serial No. 454,745. (No model.) n

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM PENN MILLER, a citizen of the United States, resi ding at Redding, in the county of Shasta and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ore-Separators, as set forth in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification,- in which- Figure l, is a perspective view of a separator embodying my invention. Fig. 2, is an end view of the same. Fig. 3, is a side view with the screen sections removed. Figs. 4, and 6 are plan views of the screen sections. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of one of the water tubes. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view of the pipe for supplying water to the tubular shaft A.

My invention relates to means for recover.-

ing fine material, especially the precious metals contained in the waters flowing from a reduction works, and my invention consists of the constructions and combinations of devices which I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

To enable others skilled in the art to which Y at the lower endin the manner yhereinafter stated.

The separator or screen Sherein shown, is of octagonal form and its frame is composed of tubular material, such as gas or water piping, and it comprises in its construction a main shaft A suitably mountedv in boxes or bearings a and carrying at one end, preferably the lowertend, a gear wheel or pinion P to which power is applied in any suitable manner to effect the rotation of the screen. The shaft A is also of tubular form and connects with any suitable source of Water supply through the medium of a hose or tube b, and said shaft has securely fitted to it at desired points the radially disposed pipes or tubes B whose outer ends are coupled to 1ongitudinally extending tubes C, and whose inner ends are open and communicate with the interior of the shaft A so that clear water su pplied to the shaft passes through to thel radial arms or tubes B into the tubes @which latter are perforated throughout their length whereby they discharge currents or jets of water in the manner and for the purpose hereinafter indicated. This construction and arrangement of the tubes form a secure frame work having end heads and one or more iutermediate heads.

The longitudinal tubes Care fitted or coupled to the radial tubes in series, herein shown as three, and to these tubes C suitable screen sections D are secured in any Well known manner as by set screws or turn-buttons b to divide the separator or screen into compartments of `varying dimensions, while preserving throughout the octagonal form of the screen in cross-section, and constituting three separate screening surfaces, fi. e. and inner screen C', a middle screen C2, and an outer screen C3.

The screen sections are of different mesh or iineness, and at the inlet or head end of the separator is a funnel-shaped extension R into which is adapted to discharge a sluice or other conduit :for conveying the material to be separated to theinte'rior of the separator and upon the innerscreen.

The 'screens before mentioned are of fine wire cloth, the inner screen being of a size finer than the screen usually placed at the discharge of a crushing plant, the middle screen being a size iiner thanthe inner one, while the outer screen is the finest of the series and is of a fineness that permits nothing but the waters and fine muds and slimes to pass through. It is manifest that the degrees of fineness of said screens may be regulated to IOO screen to its receiving tank, apron, or receptacle M at the discharge end, and the still finer material, sands, slimes, and sedimentary matter passing through the meshes of the outer or finest screen, which is composed of very fine wire cloth or like material, and falls upon said outer screen. Any material of sufiicieut size to prevent it passing through the outer screen is carried along the same to its receiving tank, apron, or receptacle M, while the Waters, fine slimes and sediments which pass through the outer screen are received into a tank or receptacle K placed below and extending the length of said screen. From this description it will be seen that all of the material which is fine enough to pass through the inner screen with the water, drops upon the middle screen,and allthat is neenough to pass the latter screen passes to the outer screen where the final separation occurs, the waters and finest slilnes finding their way to the tank K, and the coarser material from each screen being received into its own tank at the lower or discharge end of the separator, and from thence it may be removed for further treatment by any of the well known methods. lVhile this screening is going on clear water, under pressure, is admitted to the central hollow shaft and finding its Way to the longitudinal perforated pipes C is discharged therefrom and fiowing over the surfaces of the screens, reduces the thick muddy waters carryin g the slimes and sedimentary matter, and thereby facilitates the washing and freeing of the sands and coarser material from all mud and sediment, and aiding the passage of the muddy waters and fine sedimentary material in their passage through the different screens in the several receiving tanks. Thus there is a perfectseparation under a continuv ous iiow of the whole mass, the muddy waters going into the tank K and the sands, coarse gangue, and other material being conveyed upon the different screens to be discharged at the discharge ends thereof in a comparatively dry condition, free from all adhering fine sedimentary matter.

The screen frames before mentioned are designed to fit and rest upon the longitudinal tubes C between adjoining arms and are removably held in place by the turn-buttons or set screws b. Should any of the different screens become broken or torn the one so inj ured can, in a few seconds of time, be removed and another inserted; for example should any one of the screen sections of the inner screen be injured, the corresponding section of the outer screen is removed (see Fig. l) by releasing its turn-buttons, then likewise remove the middle screen section when access is had to the broken or injured inner section which is replaced by a new section, and the middle and outer sections replaced. It will also bc observed that the discharges of the different screens project one beyond the other to enable them to discharge into their respective receivers and that rotation is given the separator to facilitate the rapid separation and screening of the material.

Having thus described my invention, what I `claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A separator com prisin ga central tubular shaft to be connected with a source of water supply and having the radially disposed tubes connectingwith its interior,thelongitudiually extending tubes fitted to said arms and provided with perforations or water outlets, and screen-sections detachably fitted on said 1ongitudinal tubes whereby the currents or jets of water therefrom are discharged over the surface of the screens to assist the washing of the material thereon.

2. In a separator the central tubular shaft with radial tubes, the longitudinal perforated connecting tubes coupled to said radial tubes, superposed screen sections detachably fitted on said connecting tubes and arranged in ap proximately annular series to form independent concentric screens, means for rotating the separator and supplying its central shaft and perforated connecting tubes with water, and supplying material to the innermost screen, and independent receivers for the discharge of each screen.

WILLIAM PENN MILLER.

lVi tnesses:

D. MURPHY, F. MONAGHAN. 

